14 Memory

He Zifeng looked at his empty bowl at present.

Mrs. He knew her son was reminiscing as he was just staring at his bowl. She definitely hit a nerve.

"Son, I'll leave the thermal container here. Take it back when you have time to visit."

With that, she patted him on the shoulder, then she left after he nodded.

He seemed to be in a daze still.

Mrs. He had a regretful smile as she boarded the elevator. She knew her son liked Chen Kaori, from the moment he saw her. However, he became indifferent towards everyone, most especially towards Chen Kaori, after the incident that summer.

It became hard for him to express his feelings. Mrs. He just hopes that it would not be too late for them.

He Zifeng continued reminiscing and closed his eyes as he lied down on the sofa.

His memory is good so the recollection was vivid.

...

Chen Kaori sat back down to sip the soup. She had a subtle smile after one sip.

He Zifeng was relieved to be able to keep her by his side a moment more.

He cleared his throat. "Uh...did...did Hui ask you out?" his voice was so soft that if there was no prior silence, she would not be able to hear his words clearly.

However, that summer, for some reason, even ambient sounds outside were almost absent, so his words were clear enough for her to hear.

"He did," she answered.

"Uh, well...when are you..." He Zifeng was dying to know when the one he likes will go out with his rival.

"I declined." Chen Kaori declared.

He Zifeng leaned back on the sofa so he could hide his wide smile behind her.

Just then, Chen Kaori put down the ceramic bowl, and got up from the sofa.

She went to look for Mrs. He in the kitchen, thanked the lady of the house for the soup and told her that she was going back home.

He Zifeng could hear the conversation and panicked.

He will be leaving in a few days. He felt that the time they spent together was too short.

He will not just stay home and await his departure!

He followed Chen Kaori out to the yard and called out to stop her from leaving just yet, "Chen Kaori!"

He Zifeng managed to ask her to take him to a place where they could swim, reasoning that she should know some since she was a local.

She finally smiled back at him and recommended a place.

"There's a hot spring resort nearby. We can go by bike tomorrow," she replied.

She looked excited. In fact, she was only quiet because she did not know how to comfort him for losing the game. She was afraid he will get mad if she said too much. That was why after treating his wounds, she bid the household goodbye.

However, He Zifeng suddenly wanted to go swimming, so she thought he was not upset anymore.

She decided to take him to a famous place and she cannot wait to pick out clothes to wear.

After setting the time, they bid to see each other the next day.

The next day came and He Zifeng waited with his bike and backpack at his neighbor's gate a quarter of the hour before the agreed time.

Chen Kaori stifled her giggle and a shriek with a stuffed animal. She was checking her bag when she saw He Zifeng waiting patiently outside their gate. She slightly moved the curtain just enough to take a better look at him from her window.

Chen Kaori felt giddy and did not even bother to pack properly, just throwing swimwear and sunblock, and what not, into her bag.

She had a wide smile as she told her parents she will be going out.

They knew their plans beforehand so her mother just handed a bento before bidding goodbye.

Chen Kaori was wearing a dress, because for her, it was a special day.

However, she was very uncomfortable in it as she sat behind him on the bike.

He Zifeng felt that she was squirming at the back, so he pressed on the brake and supported the bike with his legs.

Chen Kaori got off instinctively.

Then He Zifeng moved the makeshift seat at the back, to the front, just before the handles. He tightened the clamps to make sure it was secure. Then he got on the bike again.

"What..." Chen Kaori was confused as to what to do.

"Get on." He Zifeng lightly tapped the makeshift seat he just reassembled.

Chen Kaori blushed. He was asking her to sit in front of him!

She looked at the previous location of the seat and was about to protest.

"If we take too long, there might be a line at the entrance." He Zifeng subtly told her to hurry up.

With that, Chen Kaori rode on, clutching her backpack, which was on her lap, her body leaning a bit on his.